Adjustable curtain-rod



(No Model.)

. W. A. TURNER.

ADJUSTABLE CURTAIN ROD.

Patented May 29, 1894.

B E: F, 1| EL 0 UNITED STATES Arum rrron- WVILLIAM A. TURNER, OFVVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY A. FOWLER AND JOHN H.LINGLEY, OF SAME PLACE, AND SAMUEL FOWLER, OF NORTHBRIDGE,MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJ USTAB LE CU RTAI N-ROD...

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,584, dated May 29,1894.

Application filed March 8,1894. Serial No. 502,929. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM A. TURNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inAdjustable Curtain-Rods, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thesame, and in which- Figure 1 represents an adjustable curtain rodembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional Viewof the same. Fig. 3 represents on a larger scale the screw threaded endof the interior rod, upon which the expansible locking nut is carried.Figs. 4 and 5 are detached views of the locking nut. Fig. 6 representsthe screw threaded end of the interior rod with the expansible lockingnut held thereon and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the nut as applied tothe rod. Fig. 8 represents the same with the expansible locking nutshownin central longitudinal sectional vlew.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the I difierent figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a curtain rod, adapted to beheld between the opposing sides of a window, or door casing byfrictional contact,and adjustable in its length, so that within certainlimits,it can be adapted to fit openings of differents widths.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents one of my improvedcurtain rods, shown as supported between opposing surfaces representedby the lines A, A. The body or central portion of the curtain rodconsists of a tube B having a tip B attached to one end and containingan elastic washer B which is pressed against the surface A. Within thetube B, I place an interior rod 0 fitting loosely within the tube so asto be capable of sliding therein. The end of the rod 0, contained withinthe tube, is provided with a screw thread 0 and immediately back of thescrew threaded section, I form a tapering section (J slightly smaller indiameter than the rod 0. Upon the screw threaded end 0, I place anexpansible nut D provided with a screw thread D and elastic wings D DThe cup-shaped end D is less in diameter than the bore of the tube B, soas to slide freely therein, and the elastic wings D D are spread apartso they will bear against the inner side of the tube B and producesufficient frictional resistance to hold the nut from rotatingwhen thescrew threaded rod is turned within the tube, allowing the rod to berotated and cause the nut to move upon the screw threaded end so as tocarry'the wings D D over the tapering section 0 by which the wings arecrowded firmly against the interior surface of the tube 13, withsufficient force to prevent the rod C from moving longitudinally withinthe tube.

Sliding upon the outer end of the rod C is a tube E having a tip Eattached to its end carrying an elastic washer E bearing against thesurface A; a spring F having one end bearing against the end of the rod0 and with its opposite end held from longitudinal movement within thetube E serving to press the washers E and B firmly against the opposingsides of the casing as represented by the lines A, A.

The length of the structure is adjusted to the distance between theopposing casings, by rotating the rod 0 and screwing the nut D to theend of the rod, in the position represented in Figs. 6 and 8, therebydrawing the wings D off from the tapering section 0 so they will onlypress slightly against the inner surface of the tube due to theirelasticity, allowing the rod 0 to be moved lengthwise the tube B and thelength of the structure varied to suit the opening. 1

When the rod 0 has been adjusted within the tube so the entire length ofthe whole structure is slightly greater than the distance between theopposing casings, the rod 0 is rotated, causing the expansible nut to bescrewed upon the rod and the elastic wings D carried over the taperingsection 0 in the position represented in Fig. 2, thereby crowding thewings D against the inner surface of the tube, sufiiciently hard to holdthe rod 0 from longitudinal movement. I

When adjusted in length, the curtain rod is placed in position bysliding the tube E over the end of the interior rod 0, compressing thespring F until the washers B and E can be placed against the opposingsides of the casing, when the pressure of the washers upon the casingdue to the tension of the compressed spring F, serves to hold the rod inposition and allow the curtain to be supported. thereon.

I do not herein claim the use of a spring actuated tip carried upon theend of a curtain rod, but my present invention has for its object toprovide an efficient means for Varying the length of the curtain rod, inorder to adapt it to openings of varying Widths.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an adjustable curtain rod, the combination of tube B,interior rod0, provided with a screw threaded section 0 and a tapering section 0 nutD held on said screw threaded section 0 and having wings D arranged tobe brought over said tapering section by the longitudinal movement ofsaid nut on said screw threaded section, whereby said wings are crowdedagainst the inner surface of said tube and the rod 0 held fromlongitudinal movement on said tube, substantially as described,

2. The combination in an adjustable curtain rod, of the tube B, rod Gheld in said tube and having a screw threaded portion 0' and a taperingsection 0 and an expansible nut carried on said screw threaded sectionand arranged to be expanded by the tapering section of said rod 0,substantially as described.

In an adjustable curtain rod, the combination of the tube B, tip Battached thereto, rod 0 adj ustably held in said tube, and having ascrew threaded section'C' and a tapering section 0 a nut D held on saidscrew threaded section, elastic wings D D extending from said nut andarranged to press by their elasticity against the inner side of saidtube to hold the nut from rotating with said rod 0, whereby said wingsare carried over said tapering section 0 a sliding tip carried on theend of said rod C, and aspring heldin said tip andacting against theside of the rod 0, substantially as described.

Dated this 3d day of March, 18%.

WILLIAM A. TURNER.

Witnesses:

RUFUS B. FOWLER, EMMA KESTER.

